A native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future in New York (includes any species listed as federally Threatened by the United States). It is illegal to take, import, transport, possess, or sell an animal listed as Threatened, or its parts, without a permit from NYSDEC. 1) Any native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future in New York. 2) Any species listed as threatened by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Federal Protection:Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act implements various treaties and
conventions between the U. S. and Canada, Japan, Mexico and the former
Soviet Union for the protection of migratory birds. Under this Act,
taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds, including nests or eggs,
is unlawful unless specifically permitted by other regulations.

State Rarity Rank:S3B

A State Rarity Rank of S3B means: Typically 21 to 100 breeding occurrences or limited breeding acreage in New York State.

Global Rarity Rank:G5

A Global Rarity Rank of G5 means: Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Did you know?
Common Terns exhibit a variety of breeding displays including a "greeting ceremony" between pairs where the female stands erect and the male bowed and a "parade" where the male walks in a circle around the female (Nisbet et al. 2002).

Common Terns were historically impacted by hunting and the millinery trade in New York. They are currently threatened by restricted habitat availability, human-commensal predators, habitat loss from coastal development and rising sea-levels from climate change. The Common Tern is state-listed as threatened by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation. There are roughly 50 colonies in a year on Long Island with additional inland populations that are generally smaller and scattered.

The statewide distribution of the Common Tern in NY has remained relatively stable from the first Breeding Bird Atlas (1980-1985) where it was reported in 122 blocks, to the second breeding bird atlas (2000-2005) where the species was reported in 121 atlas blocks (McGowan and Corwin 2008). Inland populations expanded from 25 blocks in the first atlas to 42 in the second (McGowan and Corwin 2008). Year to year variation in numbers on Long Island is generally high. Numbers peaked with 27,270 pairs in 1987 and were at a low in 1995 of 17,442 pairs (Hays 1998, Sommers and Alfieri 1998).

Common Terns were historically abundant on Long Island in the mid-1800s (Giraud 1844, DeKay 1844). It is unclear whether or not there were significant inland breeding populations during this time. Inland populations were first documented along islands in the St. Lawrence river in 1917 (Merwin 1918). After the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, nesting colonies began to rebound statewide (McGowan and Corwin 2008, Courtney and Blokpoel 1983, Peterson et al. 1985). More inland populations were established and first documented in along Oneida Lake in 1929 (Stoner 1932) and in Buffalo in 1944 (Beardslee and Mitchell 1965). Upstate numbers declined in the 1970s, while Long Island populations grew with four new colonies (Bull 1964, Hays 1998, McGowan and Corwin 2008).